They still had plenty of food, but survival on Fenris wasn't just about food.
Fenris orbits a star named Wolf's Eye, with an orbital period roughly equal to two standard Terra years, which the locals call a 'Great Year'.
As Fenris begins to move away from its sun from its perihelion, vast oceans start to freeze over in large sections, and by the time it finally reaches its aphelion, even the ocean surface near the equator will be covered in solid ice.
Therefore, during Fenris's harsh winter, the inhabitants of Fenris can freely travel between many islands across the frozen ocean.
When the planet approaches the sun again from its aphelion, it signals that a Great Year on Fenris is nearing its end; Wolf's Eye will gradually expand in the sky, and a brief spring returns to the world.
When Fenris finally reaches its closest point to the sun, the planet enters another extreme, completely opposite.
Due to its proximity to the star, immense tidal forces tear and twist the seafloor crust, rapidly heating the planet's core, allowing cold seawater to directly contact the exposed molten mantle. At this time, Fenris tumbles under the distortion of violent tidal forces, torn apart in an explosive clash of ice and fire.
This is the season of fire and water—the fire season.
The most direct result is that a large number of islands formed in the previous Great Year will sink into the sea due to violent crustal movements, volcanic eruptions, and tumultuous tsunamis, followed by new land rising from the sea.
So, before summer arrives, all life on Fenris must begin to migrate. Human tribes will drift across the sea in longships, quickly finding and settling on newly formed land during the fire season, while accumulating resources and food for winter, because a single voyage to find new land can quickly deplete their supplies.
But the beasts of Fenris do not possess human craftsmanship; to survive, they must reach the polar regions or the Arctic's Asaheim before spring arrives.
The polar glaciers do not completely melt even in summer, allowing creatures to survive there.
And Asaheim is the only permanent continent on Fenris; many beasts that survive the harsh winter migrate towards Asaheim.
Because almost all terrestrial animals on the glaciers originated from Asaheim, they are also the losers in the struggle for settlement rights in Asaheim.
It is difficult for them to ascend the towering peaks of Asaheim, but they can survive on the slopes of the valleys within the Asaheim mountains and on the low-lying cliffs bordering the ocean.
Although some islands also survive long-term due to the annual fire season, any island other than Asaheim might sink in the next fire season, so Asaheim remains the beasts' only chance for survival.
And reaching Asaheim does not mean the end, because all creatures that migrate to Asaheim will then fight each other out of hunger.
Weaker populations will be completely consumed, stronger populations can settle in Asaheim, while those in between will leave Asaheim when winter arrives, seeking opportunities to strengthen their race in the harsh winter, returning to Asaheim to contend for settlement rights when spring arrives next year.
Their only source of food is the ocean, so they will migrate from the polar regions towards the equator at the beginning of winter, venturing onto the unfrozen sea surface to obtain food.
Once the sea surface is completely frozen, they begin to hunt each other and migrate towards Asaheim before the fire season arrives.
Sylvia's pack was one of them, but they failed.
This can't even be called a tragedy; it's just one part of Fenris's annual battle royale.
Worp: "Do you know where the human population settled?"
Sylvia: "Humans, terrible."
"In winter, the pack went hunting and was killed by humans; only I and the cubs remained."
In the harsh land of Fenris, wolf packs will attack human villages for food, and humans will hunt wolf packs for self-preservation; every life struggles for survival, and anyone can die in a hunt.
If the wolf child had been found by humans, Worp would have killed Sylvia and the wolf cubs she raised to protect that village.
But the wolf child was found and raised by Sylvia, so Worp would protect Sylvia and the other wolf cubs.
Worp: "Can you take me to find the humans?"
Sylvia nodded her wolf head.
The wolf pack she belonged to had fallen into a human trap while attacking a village; all the other adult giant wolves were killed, and only she escaped by chance, beginning to raise and care for all the cubs of the pack alone.
Even the wolf pack suffered setbacks when attacking villages, so Sylvia, as a lone wolf, dared not attack villages, and even when hunting, she only dared to do so far away from human villages.
But Sylvia still agreed without hesitation.
Because if she hadn't met Worp, not only would this group of wolf cubs have found it difficult to survive the winter, but she herself would probably have long since become a dry bone on the tundra. Even if they had luckily survived the winter, they would have had to migrate towards Asaheim, and a pack that had lost all its adult giant wolves would have found it very difficult to survive in Asaheim.
After eating their last roasted meat in the den, Worp used deer sinew to hang the reserved frozen meat on the backs of the wolf pack, and they set off as the sun rose.
The warmth brought by the sun was better than nothing; the wolf pack had adapted to the cold, and Worp also had psychic protection.
Although the deerskin wrapping the wolf child was thin, the Primarch was not afraid of this cold.
Human settlements were very conspicuous on the ice plains; their population was very large, far exceeding wolf packs and other communities. They would also build bonfires like Worp, trying to keep the flames from extinguishing even at night.
When the wolf pack appeared at the foot of the human village's mountain, they were quickly discovered by the lookout guards.
The guards struck the clapper, and the young men from every household rushed to the village entrance from all directions, confronting the wolf pack tensely across the wooden fence.
These beasts plunder the village every year; they are very clever, often launching attacks at night, not to kill people, but to plunder the village's granary. If humans do not stop them, they are likely to leave no one harmed, just grab and run.
However, the food in the granary is key for the village to survive the next fire season, so they must prevent these beasts from plundering.
Both sides are fighting for survival; this is a life-and-death relationship.
Worp stood at the front of the wolf pack, and the female wolf beside him cooperatively lowered her body into a submissive posture.
"We come in peace."
This made the village hunters not only tense but also a little curious and fearful; they had never heard of anyone being able to tame these cunning giant wolves, which was enough to show that Worp was a powerful warrior!
"Respected warrior, I am Eris. May I ask what you need us to provide for you?"
A strong warrior who looked like the leader of the others, with an axe in his right hand, asked with both caution and politeness.
Worp: "I want to know who rules this land?"
"Great King Tengil leads us."
"I hope you can send someone to inform King Tengil; I wish to meet him."
Eris bowed and briefly exchanged opinions with other villagers before saying, "Respected warrior, how should we address you?"
"Worp."
Eris: "We will send someone to find King Tengil. In the meantime, we will provide food for you and your... companions, but please forgive us for not being able to open the gate, as your companions would frighten the women and children."
Worp could understand their difficulties; the wolf pack built a fire outside the village and began to roast meat.
Since things had come to this, let's eat first.
Out of respect, the villagers did not have everyone in the village gather around, leaving only a few guards to watch them, but nominally they were only messengers; Worp could convey any needs through them.
Even though Worp did not make a request, they still sent a barrel of grease and even brought a domesticated Glox beast.
These fierce carnivorous animals are often hunted in ritual combat and are the main livestock raised by the Fenrisians, representing the village's most important property. These villagers were willing to send a Glox beast, still fearing that Worp might forcibly plunder the village; this was an offering.
Since they were willing to give, Worp did not stand on ceremony.
But he did not slaughter the Glox beast, as there was still plenty of frozen elk meat, so there was no rush.
Sylvia skillfully began to roast the meat with her claws; the sizzling, oily aroma made the children watching them curiously through the fence drool with desire.
"Fenrir."
Worp stroked the head of a wolf cub, cut off a piece of roasted meat with a knife made of antler, and put it into his mouth, "Go give this to them."
The wolf cub joyfully carried the charred and fragrant piece of meat in its mouth, poking its wet nose through the gap in the fence.
The children in the village were initially scared and recoiled from the calf-sized wolf cub; although they had to learn to fight in the harsh Fenris from a young age, they still felt afraid when facing such a top predator.
But soon, a sturdy boy with braids bravely stepped forward. As his trembling fingers touched the roasted meat offered by the wolf cub, hot grease dripped from the crispy skin, burning small holes in the snow and melting the winter accumulation.
"Is it delicious?"
Worp asked with a smile.
"Mmm-hmm."
The boy wolfed down the elk meat, and Fenrir still kept his muzzle at the gap in the fence, looking at him eagerly.
The boy hesitated for a long time, then reluctantly handed the remaining half of the meat to Fenrir.
The wolf cub eagerly opened its muzzle, bit into the roasted meat, its sharp canines precisely tearing off the charred piece, and in a few snaps, it chewed and swallowed the entire piece of roasted meat, sinew and bone included.
"Awoo!"
The wolf cub's sudden howl burst across the tundra, startling the boy into stumbling backward.
"He said thank you."
Worp translated for Fenrir.
"He's thanking me?"
The boy was not very confident, but soon his face flushed with excitement; a Fenris giant wolf had said thank you to him.
He would bet that even his father didn't have such an honor, not even King Tengil!
Although it was just a wolf cub, wasn't a wolf cub still a Fenris Wolf?
Worp: "What's your name?"
"Qiaolin Bloodhowl."
The boy's voice was so soft it was as if he feared startling the morning mist, "Can I touch it?"
"You can ask him yourself; his name is Fenrir, and he understands us."
Fenrir brought his muzzle closer to the fence, and Qiaolin asked, "Can I touch you?"
Fenrir nodded his wolf head, and Qiaolin slowly placed his hand on Fenrir's head.
"Is Fenris Wolf fur really this soft? I thought it would be very coarse."
"The main function of animal fur growth is to keep warm. The purpose of coarse bristles is defense against attacks, but in terms of warmth, they are much worse; they cannot survive Fenris's winter."
Worp also gave each of the other wolf cubs a piece of roasted meat and told them to deliver it to the other human children.
With the example of Qiaolin and Fenrir, the other children were no longer so afraid of these giant wolves.
Soon, the careful chewing sounds of the human children intertwined with the expectant whimpers of the wolf cubs, and the children were always tricked by the wolf cubs' eager looks, reluctantly giving the roasted meat back to these wolf cubs who were actually already full.
The female wolf lay lazily beside Worp, her fluffy tail gently brushing Worp's knees. She looked at the wolf cubs as if doting parents watched their children playing with their friends.
"Do you want some?"
Worp offered a piece of roasted meat to the wolf child.
"Childish."
The wolf child was expressionless, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
The wolf child lowered his head and took a fierce, large bite of roasted meat.
He did not envy Worp for naming his wolf brothers but not him;
Nor did he envy his wolf brothers being able to play with human children;
He did not envy them at all!
Chapter 71 Leeman Rus.
"Koz and Logar are still better, though."
Worp ate roasted meat, stroked the female wolf, looked at the wolf child, and sighed.
Koz was a good child, just corrupted by his environment; Worp gave him the correct guidance.
Although Logar was inherently drawn to strength, he had grown into an adult under his tutelage, and currently, no flaws could be seen.
The wolf child was untamable; he could be categorized with the Lion King.
Their births were also very similar; both were monster hunters surviving in the wilderness, and the environment of Fenris was even harsher than Caliban. For example, the Fenris elk.
Based on Worp's own experience and the lessons learned from the Emperor's failures, wild wolves should be stroked with the grain.
As long as it wasn't a matter of great right or wrong, he would try to humor the wolf child.
The wolf child lowered his head, his eyes darkening amidst his messy golden hair.
His rough fingers unconsciously scratched the frost-covered snow, deeply engraving the names Koz and Logar into his heart, just as the female wolf taught him to mark territory by leaving marks on the frozen ground with her claws.
He didn't understand why Worp was teaching him but kept comparing him to others.
From a distance came the joyous whimpers of the wolf cubs playing with the human children; he stared at the bursting orange sparks in the bonfire, each tiny pop of light seeming to mock his loneliness.
The excitement belonged to others; he only found them noisy.
"King Tengil has arrived!"
A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd in the village; the men raised their battle axes and struck their shields, the clang of metal echoing like thunder across the snow plain.
Worp saw a group of wilderness knights in the cold wind; their mounts varied.
Most were Horned Beasts and Thane Deer-Cows, which are Fenris's relatively 'docile' mammals; the leading warrior rode a giant Fenris elk.